Method and apparatus of performing tunnel signaling over IP tunneling path

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for performing tunnel signaling over an IP tunneling path are provided. The method includes transmitting an end-to-end signaling flow through an end-to-end path connected to the IP tunneling path, generating a tunnel signaling flow corresponding to the end-to-end signaling flow, and transmitting the generated tunnel signaling flow through the IP tunneling path, wherein the end-to-end signaling flow and the tunnel signaling flow respectively include a binding data object storing binding information for an end-to-end session associated with the end-to-end signaling flow or a tunnel session associated with the tunnel signaling flow.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/728,749, filed on Oct. 21, 2005, in theU.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) of KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2006-0052065, filed on Jun. 9, 2006, in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the entire disclosures of both ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for performingtunnel signaling over an IP tunneling path. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to an apparatus and method for performingtunnel signaling by generating and transmitting over an IP tunnelingpath a tunnel signaling flow corresponding to an end-to-end signalingflow.

2. Description of Related Art

As Internet technologies are becoming more widespread, a next-generationcommunication network is being developed as an “all-IP” network having astructure to which Internet Protocol (IP)-based core networks andvarious access networks are integrated. In an all-IP network, a wirednetwork such as public switched telephone network (PSTN) and a wirelessnetwork supporting, for example, International MobileTelecommunication-2000 (IMT-2000) are linked to the IP-based corenetwork to function as one integrated IP network.

Integration of different types of networks frequently occurs between anetwork supporting an IP version 6 (IPv6) address system used forsupporting mobility and quality-of-service (QoS), and a conventional IPversion 4 (IPv4) network, as well as between an IP network and a non-IPnetwork. Accordingly, a network linking technology for providingintegrated Internet service through an entire network comprising networkapparatuses supporting IPv4 and network apparatuses supporting IPv6 isrequired.

IP tunneling technology has been in the spotlight as a technology forachieving integration between an IP network and a non-IP network or IPnetworks of different types. IP tunneling is an encapsulation method oftransmitting a packet via a virtual pipe between two nodes on a network.A packet transmission path between the two nodes is called an IPtunneling path or an IP tunnel. Packets transmitted over the IPtunneling path include conventional data packets and signaling packetscontaining signaling messages for performing particular operations suchas QoS and resource reservation.

Typically, a conventional data packet is transmitted over the IPtunneling path by adding a tunnel IP header to a data packet in asuitable form according to the type of network forming the IP tunnelingpath. For example, when an IPv6 data packet passes through an IPtunneling path operating according to an IPv4 protocol, an IPv4 headerincluding addresses of both end points of the IP tunneling path is addedto the IPv6 data packet.

However, the described method has an aspect not suitable fortransmitting a signaling packet including a signaling message associatedwith maintaining and managing a network. Specifically, according to thedescribed method, it is not possible to reflect an operation associatedwith the signaling message on the IP tunneling path by dealing with asignaling packet as a conventional data packet. For example, sinceinformation associated with signaling operations, such as reservingnetwork resources to perform QoS with respect to an IP tunneling pathand transmitting a router alert option or a certain protocol number, isencapsulated by a tunnel IP header, it is not shown on nodes on the IPtunneling path. Therefore, the described signaling operations may not beperformed over the IP tunneling path.

In addition, as in the case of a conventional QoS method, whenclassifying a data packet transmitted over an IP tunneling pathaccording to a service flow type corresponding to the data packet toperform scheduling for each type, if an IP packet transmitted over theIP tunneling path is encapsulated by a tunnel IP header, the serviceflow type is not recognized on the IP tunneling path. Therefore, thedescribed scheduling operations may not be suitably performed.

On the other hand, a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) header may be addedfor recognizing a QoS data packet on a tunneling path. However, sincethe UDP header is relatively large, there is a considerable increase inoverhead by adding the UDP header to all packets passing the IPtunneling path. Particularly, this type of tunneling method is notsuitable since the overhead due to adding the UDP header becomes largerwith respect to a service of transmitting a small packet, such as voiceover IP (VoIP).

On the other hand, there has been disclosed a method of recognizing anencapsulated message on an IP tunneling path by encapsulating a packetusing a Security Parameters Index (SPI) field of an IP Security (IPSEC)protocol proposed by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) forsecure transmission and reception of packets in an IP layer. Accordingto this method, a fine signaling over an IP tunneling path is possiblewithout any overhead due to adding an additional header. However, themethod can be applied to only an IP tunneling path supporting the IPSECprotocol.

A conventional resource reservation protocol (RSVP) using the describedmethods of adding an IP header or a UDP header to an IP packet, or usingan IPSEC SPI field cannot effectively support mobility of a host, sincethe conventional RSVP does not support sender-initiated signaling thatwill be described later, and does not have consideration for themobility, for example, a session identifier value varies with handoff ofa mobile node.

Also, the above described conventional art does not provide a dataobject for simultaneously supporting an individual tunnel signaling flowand a plurality of aggregated tunnel signaling flows, therefore when atunneling section and an aggregate section between a receiver and asender of an IP network exist together in or separate from an overlappedform, performing of signaling and data transmitting in the two sectionshas a problem of relying on different data objects. Consequently,overhead of an IP packet increases for storing information on theabove-mentioned relation, thereby causing delay in signaling and datatransmission.

Accordingly, an interest for a method of performing tunnel signalingwhich provides effective support and unified management for anindividual tunnel signaling and aggregated tunnel signaling over an IPtunneling path, has increased.

In order to solve the problem of the conventional art, a new techniqueof performing tunnel signaling through an IP tunneling path is provided.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of exemplary embodiments of the present invention is toaddress at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and to provideat least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect ofexemplary embodiments of the present invention is to provide anapparatus and method for effectively performing signaling and datatransmitting over an IP tunneling path.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide a newsession binding data object which can synthetically manage an end-to-endsession and a tunnel session.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide a newsession binding data object which can synthetically manage anaggregation of data sessions provided through an end-to-end path or anIP tunneling path.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention also provide an apparatusand method for performing a resource reservation or a resource releaseof an aggregate section over an IP tunneling path in a simple and directway.

According to an exemplary aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of performing tunnel signaling over an IP tunnelingpath, the method including transmitting an end-to-end signaling flowthrough an end-to-end path connected to the IP tunneling path,generating a tunnel signaling flow corresponding to the end-to-endsignaling flow, and transmitting the generated tunnel signaling flowthrough the IP tunneling path, wherein the end-to-end signaling flow andthe tunnel signaling flow respectively include a binding data objectstoring binding information for an end-to-end session associated withthe end-to-end signaling flow or a tunnel session associated with thetunnel signaling flow.

According to another exemplary aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a network apparatus including an end-to-end interfacetransmitting and receiving an end-to-end signaling flow through anend-to-end path connected to the IP tunneling path, a tunnel interfacetransmitting and receiving a tunnel signaling flow through the IPtunneling path, a tunnel signaling performing unit performing operationsassociated with a tunnel signaling message by referring to the tunnelsignaling message included in the tunnel signaling flow and a tunnelsignaling control unit generating the tunnel signaling flowcorresponding to the end-to-end signaling flow, and controlling thetunnel signaling based on binding information for an end-to-end sessionassociated with the end-to-end signaling flow or a tunnel sessionassociated with the tunnel signaling flow.

Other objects, advantages, and salient features of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings,discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features, and advantages of certainexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparentfrom the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a network to which amethod of performing tunnel signaling, according an exemplary embodimentof the present invention, is applied;

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary field format of a bindingdata object which is applied to a method of performing tunnel signalingaccording an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating types of bindings included in thebinding data object of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an IP tunneling path and an aggregatesection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an IP tunneling path and an aggregatesection according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 6 a diagram illustrating an IP tunneling path and an aggregatesection according to still another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an IP tunneling path and an aggregatesection according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an inner configuration of anetwork apparatus having a function of tunnel signaling according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an inner configuration of anexemplary tunnel signaling control unit of FIG. 8.

Throughout the drawings, the same drawing reference numerals will beunderstood to refer to the same elements, features, and structures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The matters defined in the description such as a detailed constructionand elements are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding ofthe exemplary embodiments of the invention. Accordingly, those ofordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes andmodifications of the embodiments described herein can be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the invention. Also, descriptionsof well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity andconciseness.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of a network towhich a method of performing tunnel signaling, according an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention, is applied. The network has astructure formed of end-to-end paths 110 and 130 and an IP tunnelingpath 120, the end-to-end paths 110 and 130 operating according to anIPv6 protocol and the IP tunneling path 120 operating according to anIPv4 protocol.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the IP tunneling path 120 includes a tunnelentry node 103, a tunnel exit node 105 and at least one intermediatenode 104. The tunnel entry node 103 allows a packet transmitted from asender 101 of end-to-end paths 110 and 130 to enter into the IPtunneling path 120, the tunnel exit node 105 releases the packettransmitted through the IP tunneling path 120 to transmit to a receiver107 of the end-to-end paths 110 and 130, and the at least oneintermediate node 104 transmits a data packet or a signaling packetbetween the tunnel entry node 103 and the tunnel exit node 105. Anexemplary end-to-end path and IP tunneling path may be formed of anetwork supporting the IPv4 and IPv6 protocols, respectively. However,end-to-end paths supporting the IPv6 protocol and IP tunneling pathsupporting the IPv4 protocol are illustrated in FIG. 1 as a non-limitingexample for ease of description. Furthermore, exemplary embodiments mayinclude a mobile IPv4 network in which the end-to-end path and IPtunneling path operate on a basis of an IP network, a mobile IPv6network, and other possible types of different IP networks.

Operations of the method of performing tunnel signaling according toexemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described indetail below. Initially, the method of performing tunnel signalingincludes transmitting an end-to-end signaling flow through theend-to-end path. Therefore, an end-to-end signaling flow may betransmitted from the entry node 103 or exit node 105 of the IP tunnelingpath 120 to the sender 101 or receiver 107 of the end-to-end paths 110and 130.

Specifically, as illustrated in FIG. 1, when the end-to-end paths 110and 130 are formed of the IPv6 network, the end-to-end signaling flowmay be transmitted according to the IPv6 protocol, through nodes on theend-to-end paths 110 and 130 supporting the IPv6 network. Also, when theend-to-end paths 110 and 130 are formed of the IPv4 network, theend-to-end signaling flow may be transmitted according to the IPv4protocol. In this case, the signaling flow indicates packets including asignaling message, and the signaling message indicates a messagetransmitted between network configuration elements, for performingsignaling. The terminology ‘signaling’ used in the specification may beapplicable to general operations of exchanging control information withrespect to operation or management of a network apparatus, includinggeneral data, between network configuration elements. Specifically, thesignaling may include exchanging of control information associated witha network security or operations associated with reservation,modification and release of network resources for performing Quality ofService (QoS) and the like. Hereinafter, the signaling will be mainlydescribed from a viewpoint of the QoS and the resource reservation.However, the present invention may not be limited to only exemplaryembodiments as below since the present invention is applicable togeneral signaling.

The signaling flow in the specification indicates an end-to-endsignaling flow or a tunnel signaling flow. The end-to-end signaling flowindicates a signaling flow transmitted between the sender 101 and thereceiver 107. Network ends include the sender 101 and the receiver 107through the end-to-end paths 110 and 130. End-to-end paths in a broadsense indicate an entire network path connecting the sender 101 and thereceiver 107. However, the end-to-end paths used in the specificationmay indicate paths, excluding the IP tunneling path 120, of the entirenetwork path.

The tunnel signaling flow may indicate a signaling flow transmittedbetween the tunnel entry node 103 (referred to as ‘entry node’) and thetunnel exit node 105 (referred to as ‘exit node’) of the IP tunnelingpath 120. In order to properly provide an end-to-end service, asignaling message is required to be processed at not only nodes 102 and106 on the end-to-end path, but also nodes 103, 104 and 105 on the IPtunneling path 120. However, the end-to-end signaling flow may notprocessed at the nodes 103, 104 and 105 on the IP tunneling path 120since the IP tunneling path 120 is formed of a different network betweenthe end-to-end paths 110 and 130.

Accordingly, an exemplary method of performing tunnel signaling of thepresent invention includes generating a tunnel signaling flowcorresponding to the end-to-end signaling flow, and transmitting thegenerated tunnel signaling flow through the IP tunneling path. Since thegenerated tunnel signaling flow is transmitted only on the IP tunnelingpath 120, the generated tunnel signaling flow may include correspondinginformation with the end-to-end signaling flow for the end-to-endsignaling. The corresponding information may include a tunnel flowidentifier of the tunnel signaling flow and a session identifier of theend-to-end signaling flow.

The session identifier is a typical identifier of a service sessionassociated with the end-to-end signaling flow and identifies atransmitted end-to-end signaling flow for smoothly providing a servicebased on an end-to-end connection.

A tunnel flow identifier, stored with the session identifier, is atypical identifier of the tunnel signaling flow The tunnel flowidentifier is updated or newly generated when a configuration of the IPtunneling path 120 is changed, in other words when one or both of theentry node 103 and the exit node 105 are changed. Namely, the tunnelflow identifier may change its value according to address information ofthe IP tunneling path 120. Conversely, the session identifier ismaintained as an identical value while an end-to-end service session iscontinued.

In an exemplary method of performing tunnel signaling of the presentinvention, seamless end-to-end signaling may be smoothly provided in amobile IP environment, for example a portable Internet system supportinga mobile IP network, since the end-to-end signaling flow is separatedfrom the tunnel signaling flow by distinguishing the session identifierfrom the tunnel flow identifier. Applications of the IP environment ofthe present invention will be described in detail below.

In an exemplary method of performing tunnel signaling of the presentinvention, a signaling message may be identified at each node on the IPtunneling path without increasing overhead by employing an additionalUDP header. Conversely, a conventional tunneling method is applied to ageneral data flow. Specifically, in an exemplary method of performingtunnel signaling of the present invention, a high quality service may beprovided to a user since the end-to-end QoS, with respect to amultimedia application service, is supported with a type being suitablefor a multimedia application, by reducing the packet overhead.

As described above, signaling of the IP tunneling path 120 and theend-to-end paths 110 and 130 may be effectively connected since thesession identifier and the tunnel flow identifier, that aredistinguished from each other, are stored together as correspondinginformation of the end-to-end signaling flow and the tunnel signalingflow, respectively.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a datafield for storing the tunnel flow identifier may be selected from a datafield list including a plurality of data field candidates.

As an example, a Differentiated Service Code Point (DSCP) field of an IPheader of the IP packet configuring the tunnel signaling flow may beselected as a data field for storing of the tunnel flow identifier. TheDSCP field is a field used for providing QoS in a differentiated serviceand is included in both the IPv4 protocol and the IPv6 protocol.Therefore the DSCP field may be widely applicable to various IPtunneling paths.

As another example, a flow label of the IPv6 header may be selected as atunnel flow identifier field for storing a tunnel flow identifier. Sincethe flow label is allocated with a greater number of bits than the DSCPfield, a total number of tunnel signaling flows, allowed to betransmitted through the IP tunneling path 120, is greater. Accordingly,when the IP tunneling path 120 supports the IPv6 protocol, the tunnelsignaling may be effectively performed by using the flow label of theIPv6 header.

The data field for storing the tunnel flow identifier may be selected byreferring to at least any one of the IP header of the end-to-endsignaling flow, network types configuring the IP tunneling path, andservice types associated with the end-to-end signaling flow. The tunnelflow identifier stored in the selected data field from the plurality ofdata field candidates may be transmitted with source and destinationaddresses to at least one node on the IP tunneling path 120. The sourceand destination addresses may be addresses of the entry node or the exitnode.

When the DSCP field and the IPv6 flow label are not supported, aSecurity Parameters Index (SPI) of an IP Security Protocol (IPSEC)header or a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) header may be selected as adata field for storing of the tunnel flow identifier.

On the other hand, since it is not possible to process all data flowsincluded in at least one data session on a per-flow basis in a sectionon which traffic is concentrated, for example around a core network,flows sharing common characteristics such as QoS characteristics arebonded to one class to perform operations such as a packet scheduling orthe like. The bonding operation is referred to as ‘aggregation’ and asection that aggregates the data section is referred to as an ‘aggregatesection’.

The aggregate section may be located on the end-to-end path connectingthe sender 101 and receiver 107, and may or may not be in an overlappedform. Also, aside from the aggregation, when an association isestablished between different service sessions, and when processingthrough one signaling is advantageous, a plurality of sessions may bebound to be processed by using a session binding method.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, in order tosynthetically manage signaling over the IP tunneling path and theaggregate section and signaling in a session binding section, aconfiguration of a binding data object, included in the end-to-endsignaling flow and/or the tunnel signaling flow, is provided.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a field format of a binding data object200 which is applied to a method of performing tunnel signalingaccording an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, a binding data object 200 includes a binding typevalue field 210 and a session identifier field 220. The sessionidentifier field 220 stores values of typical end-to-end sessionidentifiers or tunnel session identifiers. The binding type value field210 stores values of each session binding to process various types ofsession bindings using a single binding data object. The binding dataobject may be included in a payload of an IP packet forming theend-to-end signaling flow or the tunnel signaling flow.

FIG. 3 is a table illustrating types of bindings included in the bindingdata object of FIG. 2. Referring to FIG. 3, the types of bindings storedin the binding type value field 210 of FIG. 2 may include anend-to-end-tunnel binding value 0x01, a bi-directional binding 0x02, anaggregate binding 0x03, and a tunnel aggregation binding 0x04.Hereinafter, the types of bindings will be described by referring to theaccompanying figures.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an IP tunneling path and an aggregatesection according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.As illustrated in FIG. 4, according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention, the IP tunneling path 450 is not overlapped with theaggregate section 460.

An end-to-end signaling flow generated from a sender 410 is transmittedto an entry node of the IP tunneling path 450 through a node 420 on theend-to-end path, and tunnel signaling is performed over the IP tunnelingthrough the tunnel signaling flow generated from the entry node. Whenthe tunnel signaling is performed over the IP tunneling, in the bindingtype value field 210 of the binding data object 200 of FIG. 2 of thetunnel signaling flow, the end-to-end-tunnel binding value 0x01,indicating a binding type between the end-to-end session and the tunnelsession, is stored.

An end-to-end-tunnel binding value 0x01 is stored in the end-to-endsignaling flow received by the entry node of the IP tunneling path andforwarded to the exit node of the IP tunneling path before or after thetunnel signaling is terminated. The exit node transmits the end-to-endsignaling flow to a starting node of an aggregate section 460 passingthrough a intermediate node 430 on the end-to-end path. The startingnode of the aggregate section 460 stores an aggregate binding value 0x03in a binding type value field of the end-to-end signaling flow.

On aggregate sections, end-to-end signaling is performed through asingle signaling flow with respect to an aggregate data session and anend-to-end signaling is performed with respect to each service session,with respect to paths excluding the aggregate sections.

Though not illustrated in FIG. 3, a binding value 0x00 indicating that asession binding does not exist may be stored in the binding type valuefield, on paths excluding the IP tunneling path and the aggregatesections. Specifically, the binding value 0x00 may be stored in thebinding type value field 210 of FIG. 2, at the exit node of the IPtunneling path or an ending node where the aggregate section ends.

Also, the above described operation is applied when signaling startsfrom a receiver 440.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an IP tunneling path and an aggregatesection according to another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. An IP tunneling path 570 and an aggregate section 580 of FIG.5 are partially overlapped in some sections.

At an entry node of the IP tunneling path 570, a tunnel signaling flowis generated corresponding to a received end-to-end signaling flow whichis transmitted from a sender 510 and passing through a intermediate node520 on an end-to-end path. In the binding type value field 210 of FIG. 2of the received end-to-end signaling flow at the entry node and thegenerated tunnel signaling flow, the end-to-end-tunnel binding value0x01 is commonly stored. The entry node transmits the generated tunnelsignaling flow to at least one node over the IP tunneling path 570 toperform tunnel signaling. As illustrated in FIG. 5, when a starting node530 of the aggregate section 580 is placed on the tunnel signaling path,the aggregate binding 0x03 is stored in the binding type value field210, in addition to the end-to-end-tunnel binding value 0x01. Also, thetunnel aggregation binding value 0x04 may be additionally defined andused, with respect to the aggregate section 580 located on the IPtunneling path 570.

Since the exit node of the IP tunneling path 570 is still located withinthe aggregate section 580, the exit node may establish a binding of theend-to-end signaling flow as the aggregate binding 0x03 in order totransmit the end-to-end signaling flow, forwarded from an entry node,through the end-to-end path.

A binding value 0x00 may be recorded in the binding type value field 210of the end-to-end signaling flow, out of the aggregate section 580,passing through an intermediate node 550 and transmitted to a receiver560.

When signaling starts from the receiver 560, at the tunnel exit node 540located within the aggregate section 580, the end-to-end-tunnel bindingvalue 0x01 is appended to the aggregate binding 0x03 or the tunnelaggregation binding value 0x04 may be recorded in the binding type valuefield 210, at the starting node 530 of the aggregate section located onthe IP tunneling path 570, the end-to-end-tunnel binding value 0x01 maybe recorded.

FIG. 6 a diagram illustrating an IP tunneling path and an aggregatesection according to still another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. In FIG. 6, an IP tunneling path 650 and an aggregate section660 are completely overlapped.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the FIG. 6, an entry node ofthe IP tunneling path 650 becomes a starting node where the aggregatesection 660 starts, an exit node of the IP tunneling path 650 becomes anend node where the aggregate section 660 ends.

The entry node of the IP tunneling path 650 receives an end-to-endsignaling flow transmitted from a sender 610, passing through aintermediate node 620. Since the entry node of the IP tunneling path 650is equal to the starting node of the aggregate section 660, a binding ofan end-to-end signaling flow, received by the entry node, and agenerated tunnel signaling flow may be established as the tunnelaggregation binding value 0x04. Since the exemplary embodiment may be aspecific example of the IP tunneling path 650 or the aggregate section660, the binding of the end-to-end signaling flow and the tunnelsignaling flow may be established as the end-to-end-tunnel binding value0x01 or the aggregate binding value 0x03.

A signaling operation, for example a resource reservation, a QoSestablishment, and the like, may be performed with respect to anaggregated data session on the IP tunneling path by using the tunnelsignaling flow having the established binding. Also, an end-to-endsignaling flow having an identical binding is forwarded from the entrynode to the exit node of the IP tunneling path 650.

A binding of the forwarded end-to-end signaling flow may be establishedas the binding value 0x00 transmitted to a receiver 640, passing througha intermediate node 630.

The above described operation is also applicable when signaling startsfrom the receiver 640.

As illustrated FIG. 6, when the IP tunneling path 650 and the aggregatesection 660 are overlapped, according to another exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention, tunnel signaling performed through the IPtunneling path 650 may be formed of serial message flows for aggregatinga plurality of data sessions over the IP tunneling path.

Namely, the performing of tunnel signaling according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may include receiving an end-to-endaggregation message aggregating the plurality of the data sessions onthe end-to-end path, generating a tunnel aggregation message aggregatingthe plurality of the data sessions on the IP tunneling path, based onthe received end-to-end aggregation message and transmitting thegenerated tunnel aggregation message to at least one node on the IPtunneling path.

As an example of the tunnel aggregation message, the tunnel aggregatemessage may include at least one of an aggregate association generatemessage, an aggregate association modify message, and an aggregateassociation delete message for the plurality of the data sessions.

Also, as illustrated in FIG. 6, when the IP tunneling path and theaggregate section are completely overlapped, according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention, a reservation, amodification, and a release of network resources may be dynamicallyperformed for providing aggregation of the data session over an IPtunneling path. Management of the dynamic network resources may besimply performed through an exchange of tunnel signaling messages.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating an IP tunneling path and an aggregatesection according to yet another exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention. For reference, only a network resources reservation releaseis taken as an example as below. However, it is evident to those skilledin the art that the same idea is also applicable to a case ofestablishing an additional reservation and modification of aggregateresources.

Referring to FIG. 7, an entry node of an IP tunneling path 750 receivesan end-to-end resource reservation release message 701 transmitted froma sender 710, passing through a intermediate node 720. The end-to-endresource reservation release message 701 may be associated with anoperation of a resource release, the resource being associated with asession that is no longer used due to a state change of a routing, frominitially reserved network resources for aggregation of the plurality ofdata sessions over the IP tunneling path 750. Also, when a data sessionis no longer provided through an aggregation section, the end-to-endresource reservation release message 701 may be a network resourcesrelease message associated with the data session, the data session beingprovided to a mobile terminal through handoff of the mobile terminalsupporting a mobile IP network.

The entry node may generate a tunnel resource reservation releasemessage 703 transmitted to at least one node on the IP tunneling path750, on a basis of the end-to-end resource reservation release message701. Also, when an end-to-end resource reservation release message 702is transmitted to an exit node, from a receiver 740 and passing throughan intermediate node 730, the tunnel resource reservation releasemessage 703 may be generated by the exit node.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, theresources reservation release message 702 may be a type of a resourcerelease flag being added to the tunnel resources reservation releasemessage 703. Depending upon the exemplary embodiment, aggregateresources on the IP tunneling path 750 may be quickly and simplyreleased without generating an additional resources reservation releasemessage 702.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, initially a reserved aggregate resource withrespect to an aggregate section 760, overlapped with the IP tunnelingpath 750, is not maintained until the aggregate section 760 is released.But the initially reserved aggregate resource is dynamically released,modified, or added when a state change of a routing or when the mobileterminal performs a handoff. Therefore, the network resources may beeffectively operated and more service sessions may be processed by usingidentical network resources. The above method of releasing a resource isfor utilizing the resource in an aggregate section and may be utilizedin all types of aggregate sections, including FIGS. 4 and 5.

Referring back to FIG. 3, the binding type value applied to the methodof performing tunnel signaling according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention may be a bi-directional binding value 0x02,indicating a binding between a plurality of the end-to-end sessions orthe tunnel sessions of different directions.

The bi-directional binding value 0x02 may be applied to all casesillustrated in FIGS. 4 through 6 and a case of performing a QoSestablishment or a resource reservation of a bi-directional session byusing a single signaling flow.

Also, a section of an unused binding values 0x05˜ illustrated in FIG. 3may be used as a reserved area for a binding type value corresponding toan additionally defined binding type. As an example, a dependantbinding, indicating a binding between a plurality of sessions in which aspecific session is provided only when other sessions are provided, maybe defined as the unused binding 0x05˜.

The binding which is additionally defined using the unused bindingvalues 0x05˜ may be associated with an application-specific sessionbinding type, or when a session binding type supported by a signalingprotocol is added.

Also, an area for the unused binding values 0x05˜ may be used for datathat is required to be additionally stored with each of the bindings.

An IP tunneling path according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention may be a mobile IP tunneling path, the mobile IP tunnelingpath connecting a mobile node (MN), supporting the IP protocol,including a home agent (HA). A mobile IP environment according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a mobile IPv4protocol, a mobile IPv6 protocol, and any type of IP environmentsupporting mobility.

A method of tunnel signaling according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention is suitable for application to a mobile environment.As an example, a continuity of an end-to-end service session may bemaintained since a session identifier associated with an end-to-endsignaling flow is not changed when a mobile IP tunneling path, havingthe mobile node as an entry node or exit node by handoff of a mobilenode, is changed.

Also, a packet overhead may be minimized since an additional header isnot added for tunnel signaling over an IP tunneling path. Also, aproblem of a service delay caused by a handoff of a mobile node may beeffectively handled since quicker tunnel signaling is provided in amobile IP environment where an IP tunneling path frequently changes bysupporting methods of parallel signaling and sender-initiated signaling.

A method of tunnel signaling over an IP tunneling path according to theabove-described exemplary embodiment of the present invention may berecorded in computer-readable media including program instructions toimplement various operations embodied by a computer. The media may alsoinclude, alone or in combination with the program instructions, datafiles, data structures, and the like. Examples of computer-readablemedia include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks, andmagnetic tape; optical media such as CD ROM disks and DVD;magneto-optical media such as optical disks; and hardware devices thatare specially configured to store and perform program instructions, suchas read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), flash memory, andthe like. The media may also be a transmission medium such as optical ormetallic lines, wave guides, etc. including a carrier wave transmittingsignals specifying the program instructions, data structures, etc.Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such asproduced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that maybe executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardwaredevices may be configured to act as one or more software modules inorder to perform the operations of the above-described embodiments ofthe present invention.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention may be applied to anetwork apparatus performing tunnel signaling through an IP tunnelingpath. FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating an inner configuration ofthe network apparatus having a function of tunnel signaling according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A tunnel interface 810 in FIG. 8 is a component of the network apparatusfor transmitting and receiving a tunnel signaling flow through the IPtunneling path. The tunnel interface 810 connects to the networkapparatus, according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, with the IP tunneling path.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, anend-to-end interface 820 transmits and receives an end-to-end signalingflow through, and connects the network apparatus with, an end-to-endpath. When the network apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention is located at an entry node 103, the end-to-endinterface 820 transmits or receives a data flow or an end-to-endsignaling flow to or from a sender 101, respectively. Also, when thenetwork apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention is located at an exit node 105, the end-to-end interface 820transmits o receives the data flow or the end-to-end signaling flow toor from a receiver 107, respectively.

The tunnel interface 810 and the end-to-end interface 820 arerespectively formed of a network interface having a functionality ofprocessing data flows or signaling flows, according to an addressingmethod including at least one of the IPv4, the IPv6, the mobile IPv4,and the mobile IPv6 protocols.

A tunnel signaling performing unit 840 performs operations of propersignaling, according to a signaling message included in the tunnelsignaling flow, for example, and may include a logic for extracting asignaling message, a logic for reading the signaling message and a logicfor updating QoS information and resource reservation information of thenetwork apparatus according to the signaling message.

A tunnel signaling control unit 830 controls the tunnel interface 810,the end-to-end interface 820 and the tunnel signaling performing unit840 of components of the network apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Also, the tunnel signaling control unit 830 generates a tunnel signalingmessage for signaling over the IP path. The tunnel signaling controlunit 830 has an inner configuration as described below.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating an inner configuration of thetunnel signaling control unit 830 of FIG. 8. An IP packet extractionunit 940 extracts an IP packet from an end-to-end signaling flow or atunnel signaling flow.

A binding type value reading unit 920 reads a binding type valueincluded in the extracted IP packet. As an example, the binding typevalue reading unit 920 may extract the binding type value from atunneling data object field included in a payload of the IP packet.

A binding type value configuring unit 930 receives a binding type valueto be configured or to be modified, and may configure or modify thebinding type value stored in the data field 210 of FIG. 2 of the IPpacket by using the received binding type value.

The binding type value according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention may include an end-to-end-tunnel binding, abi-directional, an aggregate binding and a tunnel aggregate binding: theend-to-end-tunnel binding indicating a binding between an end-to-endsession and a tunnel session, the bi-directional binding indicating abinding between a plurality of the end-to-end sessions or the tunnelsessions of different directions, the aggregate value indicating a typeaggregating a plurality of data sessions, and the tunnel aggregatebinding indicating the aggregating is performed over the IP tunnelingpath.

A message generation unit 910 generates a tunnel signaling message ofthe tunnel signaling flow by referring to a signaling message includedin the received end-to-end signaling flow. As an example, the tunnelsignaling message of the tunnel signaling flow may be generated bycopying a signaling message of the end-to-end signaling flow.

The tunnel signaling message may include a QoS message associated with aQoS on the IP tunnel path, a network resource reservation messagereserving, modifying, and releasing network resources required forperforming QoS, and a network security message performing operationsover a tunneling path associated with secure data flow transmittedthrough the IP tunneling path.

Also, the message generation unit 910 may generate a tunnel flowidentifier associated with a tunnel signaling flow. The tunnel flowidentifier is a newly generated value or a value modified when the IPtunneling path changes, and may be stored in the data object with asession identifier of a service session associated with the end-to-endsignaling flow.

Also, the message generation unit 910 may control transmitting andreceiving of the tunnel signaling message by referring to the bindingtype value read by the binding type value reading unit 920.Specifically, the message generation unit 910 performs operations ofreserving, modifying, and releasing the network resources for bindingbetween the tunnel session and the end-to-end session or aggregation ofthe data session, when the IP tunneling path is overlapped with anaggregate section, configuring, or modifying the binding type value ofthe tunnel signaling flow including the generated tunnel signalingmessage.

The network apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention may include network apparatuses, for example a routeroperated on a wired IP network, a wireless network apparatus of anaccess control router (ACR), a gateway GPRS support node (GGSN), and thelike.

Hereto, the network apparatus having a function of the IP tunnelsignaling according to an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionis described by referring to FIGS. 8 and 9. Since the above describedexemplary embodiments, described with reference to FIGS. 1 through 7,may be applied to the network apparatus according to the presentinvention, a detailed description associated with the network apparatuswill be omitted hereinafter.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, anend-to-end QoS, a network resource reservation and a security managementmay be performed since tunnel signaling over an IP tunneling path isperformed by interoperating with an end-to-end signaling, accordinglyQoS provided to a user may be guaranteed.

Also, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,types of networks, a traffic state, and an adaptable tunnel signalingdepending upon a service application may be controlled since a datafield for storing of a tunnel flow identifier is selected from aplurality of selectable data fields.

Also, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, amobility of a host may be reliably supported since a session identifieris maintained as an identical value, even in a case of a handoff of amobile node supporting a mobile IP, while service session is continued.

Also, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, anend-to-end session and a tunneling session may be synthetically managedby using a session binding data object that stores binding informationof the end-to-end session and the tunneling session.

Also, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, anaggregation of a data flow provided through an IP tunneling path or anend-to-end path may be effectively managed in a unified manner sincebinding type values, associated with an aggregate association of thedata flow or a data session, are stored in a binding type value field ofa session binding object.

Also, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,network resources may be smoothly performed according to a state changeof a routing or a mobility of a terminal since a resource reservation ora resource release of an aggregate section is dynamically performedwithout an additional reservation or release message.

While the invention has shown and described with reference to certainexemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims and their equivalents.

1. A method of performing tunnel signaling over an IP tunneling path,the method comprising: transmitting an end-to-end signaling flow throughan end-to-end path connected to an IP tunneling path; generating atunnel signaling flow corresponding to the end-to-end signaling flow;and transmitting the generated tunnel signaling flow through the IPtunneling path, wherein the end-to-end signaling flow and the tunnelsignaling flow respectively include a first binding data object storingfirst binding information for an end-to-end session associated with theend-to-end signaling flow and a second binding data object storingsecond binding information for a tunnel session associated with thetunnel signaling flow.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the firstbinding information of the first binding data object comprises a bindingtype value indicating a binding type of the end-to-end session.
 3. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the second binding information of the secondbinding data object comprises a binding type value indicating a bindingtype of the tunnel session.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein thebinding type value comprises an end-to-end-tunnel binding, indicating abinding between the end-to-end session and the tunnel session.
 5. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the binding type value comprises anend-to-end-tunnel binding, indicating a binding between the end-to-endsession and the tunnel session.
 6. The method of claim 4, wherein thetransmitting the generated tunnel signaling flow comprises at least oneof changing the binding type value to a tunnel aggregate binding andchanging the binding type value from a tunnel aggregate binding.
 7. Themethod of claim 6, wherein the binding type value is changed when astarting node or an ending node of an aggregate section, aggregating aplurality of data sessions provided through any one of the end-to-endpath and the IP tunneling path, is located on the IP tunneling path. 8.The method of claim 6, wherein, the binding type value is changed when atunnel entry node or a tunnel exit node of the IP tunneling path islocated in the aggregate section.
 9. The method of claim 2, wherein thebinding type value is a bi-directional binding indicating a bindingbetween a plurality of end-to-end sessions or tunnel sessions ofdifferent directions.
 10. The method of claim 2, wherein the bindingtype value is an aggregate binding indicating an aggregation of aplurality of data sessions provided through the end-to-end path.
 11. Themethod of claim 3, wherein the binding type value is an aggregatebinding indicating an aggregation of a plurality of data sessionsprovided through the IP tunneling path.
 12. The method of claim 10,wherein the transmitting the generated tunnel signaling flow comprises:receiving an end-to-end aggregation message aggregating the plurality ofthe data sessions on the end-to-end path; generating a tunnelaggregation message aggregating a plurality of the data sessions on theIP tunneling path, based on the received end-to-end aggregation message;and transmitting the generated tunnel aggregation message to at leastone node on the IP tunneling path.
 13. The method of claim 11, whereinthe transmitting the generated tunnel signaling flow comprises:receiving an end-to-end aggregation message aggregating a plurality ofthe data sessions on the end-to-end path; generating a tunnelaggregation message aggregating the plurality of the data sessions onthe IP tunneling path, based on the received end-to-end aggregationmessage; and transmitting the generated tunnel aggregation message to atleast one node on the IP tunneling path.
 14. The method of claim 12,wherein the tunnel aggregation message includes at least one of anaggregate association generate message, an aggregate association modifymessage, and an aggregate association delete message for the pluralityof the data sessions.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein the tunnelaggregation message includes at least one of an aggregate associationgenerate message, an aggregate association modify message, and anaggregate association delete message for the plurality of the datasessions.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the tunnel aggregationmessage is a resource reservation release message releasing an entiretyor a part of reserved network resources on the IP tunneling path. 17.The method of claim 13, wherein the tunnel aggregation message is aresource reservation release message releasing an entirety or a part ofreserved network resources on the IP tunneling path.
 18. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the binding information comprises at least one of asession identifier of the end-to-end session or a session identifier ofthe tunnel session.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the sessionidentifier is maintained to be an identical value while the end-to-endsession is continued.
 20. The method of claim 1, wherein thetransmitting the generated tunnel signaling flow comprises: generating atunnel flow identifier associated with the tunnel signaling flow; andselecting a data field for storing of the tunnel flow identifier. 21.The method of claim 20, wherein the selecting the data field for storingof the tunnel flow identifier comprises selecting from a data field listwhich includes a plurality of data field candidates.
 22. The method ofclaim 21, wherein the data field list includes at least one of aDifferentiated Service Code Point (DSCP) field of an IP header, a flowlabel of an Internet Protocol Version 6 (IPv6) header, a SecurityParameters Index (SPI) of an IP Security Protocol (IPSEC) header, and aUser Datagram Protocol (UDP) header.
 23. The method of claim 1, whereinthe tunnel signaling flow comprises at least one of a Quality of Service(QoS) signaling, a network resource reservation signaling and a networksecurity signaling.
 24. The method of claim 1, wherein the IP tunnelingpath comprises at least one of an IPv4 network and an IPv6 network. 25.The method of claim 1, wherein the IP tunneling path comprises a mobileIP tunneling path connecting a mobile node and a home agent supportingthe mobile IP.
 26. A computer-readable storage medium having storedthereon instructions for implementing a method of performing tunnelsignaling over an IP tunneling path, the instructions comprising: afirst set of instructions for transmitting an end-to-end signaling flowthrough an end-to-end path connected to an IP tunneling path; a secondset of instructions for generating a tunnel signaling flow correspondingto the end-to-end signaling flow; and a third set of instructions fortransmitting the generated tunnel signaling flow through the IPtunneling path, wherein the end-to-end signaling flow and the tunnelsignaling flow respectively include a first binding data object storingfirst binding information for an end-to-end session associated with theend-to-end signaling flow and a second binding data object storingsecond binding information for a tunnel session associated with thetunnel signaling flow.
 27. A network apparatus performing tunnelsignaling over an IP tunneling path, the apparatus comprising: anend-to-end interface for transmitting and receiving an end-to-endsignaling flow through an end-to-end path connected to the IP tunnelingpath; a tunnel interface for transmitting and receiving a tunnelsignaling flow through the IP tunneling path; a tunnel signalingperforming unit for performing operations associated with a tunnelsignaling message by referring to a tunnel signaling message included inthe tunnel signaling flow; and a tunnel signaling control unit forgenerating the tunnel signaling flow corresponding to the end-to-endsignaling flow, and for controlling the tunnel signaling based onbinding information for an end-to-end session associated with theend-to-end signaling flow or a tunnel session associated with the tunnelsignaling flow.
 28. The network apparatus of claim 27, wherein thetunnel signaling control unit comprises: an IP packet extraction unitfor extracting an IP packet from the end-to-end signaling flow or thetunnel signaling flow; a binding type value reading unit for reading abinding type value associated with the end-to-end session or the tunnelsession from a data field of the IP packet; a binding type valueconfiguring unit for configuring or modifying the binding type valuestored in the data field of the IP packet; and a message generation unitfor generating a tunnel signaling message of the tunnel signaling flowby referring to an end-to-end signaling message of the end-to-endsignaling flow, and for controlling transmitting and receiving of thetunnel signaling message by referring to the binding type value.
 29. Thenetwork apparatus of claim 28, wherein the tunnel signaling messagecomprises at least one of a QoS message, a network resource reservationmessage and a network security message.